© 2017 Tizra Inc. 9 Catalpa Rd., Providence, RI 02906 • 401 400-2989 www.tizra.com requirements. The same platform would need to offer access control options and subscription terms suited to institutional buyers at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, as well as to individual buyers. Perhaps most important, G-W knew their own internal capabilities would be key in differentiating the product. “We have a strong in-house team,” says Digital Media Manager Julia Besteman. “We needed a very flexible platform that would give us the leeway to develop our own ideas, yet wouldn’t distract us with a lot of unnecessary software development.” OTHER SOLUTIONS CONSIDERED G-W’s carried out a rigorous RFP process based around strategic priorities, including… • Ease of use for customers. • Compatibility with a wide range of customer platforms, from tablets to desktops. • Scalable and reliable hosting infrastructure. • Ability to deploy quickly and efficiently. • Access control and commerce flexibility to support multiple markets and product types. • DRM alternatives that protected content, without inconveniencing customers. • A track record and roadmap for continuous improvement of the platform. Over several months, G-W canvassed the marketplace with the help of a consultant. Most providers were ruled out fairly quickly, but in the end four received serious consideration. As the process progressed, Scheffers remembers ease of use emerged as a key factor. “Tizra stood apart as being simple and logical,” he says, but that wasn’t true with the others. “As a sales person, I can see right away when something is too complicated. I know users will be frustrated and my sales team will wind up doing support.” In the end, it was a combination of factors that led to Tizra’s selection. “After we analyzed the RFP responses and the product